Flair Airlines Under Fire for Hijab Incident

A Muslim woman returning from Bangladesh to her home in Winnipeg was left feeling shaken and humiliated after she was forced to remove her hijab in public while boarding a Flair Airlines flight.

CTV News reported the incident happened at Toronto Pearson International on June 20. Kazi Amin had gone through security with no issues but was confronted by a Flair Airlines gate attendant when boarding.

“They looked at the passport and screamed and said, ‘You don’t look anything like your picture. What is this?’” Amin’s daughter, Afsara Raidah, told CTV News.

Raidah said the attendant took issue with her mother’s passport photo, taken 10 years ago, and without a hijab. A hijab is considered a religious covering by the CTSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) and taking it off in public is considered undressing in Muslim religion. Authorities can ask for it to be removed if it sets off the security alarm, but a private room has to be provided.

Amin said she was forced to take off her hijab right there at the gate in front of everyone.

Flair Airlines CEO Maciej Wilk told CTV News in a written statement that discrimination of any kind is not tolerated. He said the individual in this case was employed by Flair’s ground handling partner, AGI.

“AGI has issued a formal apology to the passenger, and the employee involved is on leave pending a full investigation,” the statement reads.

He said both Flair and AGI provide mandatory training in human rights and religious accommodation aligned with Transport Canada requirements.

“…we sincerely regret that this experience left our passenger feeling disrespected. No one should ever feel singled out or diminished while travelling,” the statement reads. “Every customer deserves to feel safe, valued, and treated with dignity, and we are firmly committed to upholding that standard across every touchpoint, with every partner, on every flight.”

CTV News also reports Amin and Raidah who have now filed complaints with Flair Airlines and Transport Canada, and are seeking legal counsel.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims released a statement about the incident, calling it a serious violation of religious freedoms and basic rights. It adds that its legal team is involved and will be engaging further.

“We are very concerned that such an alleged incident took place within an airport and flight service, where so many of us depend on the professionalism of the staff for basic safety,” the statement reads.

“There is no room for Islamophobia in Canada’s airports or airlines, period.”